Faster 3D Imaging for Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
3D optical histopathology for head and neck intraoperative consultation.
This project is creating a new 3D imaging system to quickly check tissue during head and neck cancer surgeries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Opsiclear LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131182 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
During head and neck cancer surgery, doctors often pause to quickly check tissue samples for cancer cells, a process called intraoperative consultation. This current method can be slow, leading to longer surgery times and sometimes missing important details due to limitations in how samples are prepared. Our team is developing a new approach that uses special optical clearing and 3D imaging to get a complete picture of the tissue much faster. This new system aims to provide detailed 3D information about the tissue right in the operating room, making the process quicker and more reliable.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancers, where precise and rapid identification of tumor margins is critical, are the primary beneficiaries of this technology.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions not requiring intraoperative tissue assessment or those undergoing non-cancer related surgeries would not directly benefit from this specific technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this technology could help surgeons more accurately identify cancer margins during surgery, potentially reducing the need for follow-up surgeries and improving long-term outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have performed: While 3D imaging and optical clearing techniques are being explored in various medical fields, this specific combination for rapid intraoperative head and neck cancer assessment represents a novel application.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, UNITED STATES
- Opsiclear LLC — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yehe — Opsiclear LLC
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yehe
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.